PETER AND THE WOLF - THE PEACEFUL VERSION

This page presents "Brave Little Timmy," a family musical inspired by the Wolf of Gubbio legend and Native American reflections. It tells of a boy's bond with a wolf, offering a musical adventure that encourages bridging conflicts with peace and respect.

BRAVE LITTLE TIMMY

a musical story

Duration:

28 minutes

Instrumentation:
The very same instrumentation of

"Peter and the Wolf"

Narrator; 1,1,1,1; 3,1,1,0; 2 perc.; strings

Year Composed:

2019

Story and Libretto by:

Lior Navok

Language:

Currently available in:
English, Hebrew
Can be translated into any language.

Written For:

Noa Berenike Navok

Premiere Performance:

Israel Chamber Orchestra

Tal Mosseri, actor

Ariel Zuckermann, conductor
Tel Aviv, Israel

Brave Little Timmy | for narrator and orchestra | Hebrew spoken version

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About Brave Little Timmy

Brave Little Timmy is a 28‑minute musical tale for narrator and orchestra, composed in 2019 as a peaceful, compassionate counterpart to Peter and the Wolf. Instead of portraying the wolf as a villain, the story reframes the relationship between humans and nature, encouraging children to question inherited fears and to approach conflict with empathy and curiosity. Inspired by the legend of Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio and enriched by Native American reflections on coexistence, the tale follows Timmy — an eight‑year‑old boy who dares to listen, understand, and ultimately protect a misunderstood creature. Through his courage, the villagers learn that fear can be replaced with respect, and that even long‑standing conflicts can be bridged through kindness. Musically, the work uses the exact instrumentation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, allowing ensembles to program the two pieces together as contrasting visions of human–animal relationships. Available in English and Hebrew (and translatable into any language), the piece is ideal for family concerts, educational programs, and nature‑themed performances.

For the Performers

Level: Ideal for professional orchestras and advanced youth ensembles experienced in narrated works and family‑concert presentation.

Programming: Perfect for family concerts, nature‑themed programs, educational outreach, and events exploring empathy, coexistence, and storytelling through music.

Style: A narrative‑driven musical tale blending spoken text with characterful orchestral writing; pairs naturally with Peter and the Wolf for contrasting perspectives.

Venue Fit: Effective in concert halls, theaters, schools, and community venues where narration and orchestral color can be clearly appreciated.

Performance Notes: Requires close coordination between narrator and conductor; adaptable to visual elements such as projections, illustrations, or simple staging.

Program Notes

For centuries, man has considered the wolf to be a fierce, frightful enemy. Generation after generation learned scary stories about wolves and their horrible deeds. Surely, these stories were based on real events, but the result was a massive extinction of the wolf population and an endless number of tales of brave individuals annihilating them.

In that spirit, Peter and the Wolf came to life. The child, who does not listen to his grandfather's advice, manages through swiftness and cleverness to catch the "bad" wolf.

In the last 20 years, there has been a revival. Wolves are now "allowed" to return to their natural habitat, the woods, and humans are learning to live again alongside wolves. In this spirit, Brave Little Timmy came to life. The libretto is based in part on the legend of Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio, along with Native American reflections on the relationship between humans and animals.

Timmy is eight years old. Every night, when everyone in the village is asleep, he hears the distant howls of a wolf. He howls back and the two communicate. Timmy knows he has a wolf-friend somewhere. One morning, the villagers realize that a wolf has visited them and devoured one of their sheep. Angrily, they decide to hunt the wolf. Timmy decides to warn the wolf. He sneaks out of the village and heads toward the woods. During his adventurous day, he meets an old hunter who is very proud of the number of wolves he has caught in his life. Timmy also encounters a bear who, in contrast to the hunter, has a "live and let live" philosophy.

When Timmy meets the wolf (not without inner conflict), he discovers a she-wolf cub. The wolf has lost her entire family to the old hunter. No one taught her how to hunt, so she is hungry and sneaks into the village. Wolves from other packs would not accept her – she is all alone.

Timmy finds a solution. He returns to the village while riding on the wolf's back and, after much hubbub and persuasion, convinces the villagers to adopt the wolf cub into their community. The community is happy to do a good thing and singles out Timmy as a brave kid.

Timmy's brave act resonates with children and adults alike, as the story encourages finding quiet, peaceful, and respectful ways to bridge various conflicts in life.

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